Megan Hanlon, Global Business Institute: Florence Spring 2024
During study abroad, I learned about myself, travel, and life in other countries. Over the four months I took away many pieces of advice that I would share with other students who choose to study abroad.
My first piece of advice for others studying abroad is knowing when to use your phone and when not to. Something I live by is the “comparison is the thief of all joy.” While studying abroad, you will see students around you traveling to different countries every weekend. With students with all different backgrounds, abilities, and intentions, some will travel more or less. This causes you to sometimes see what others do and compare your own actions. It is really important to practice taking time off of your phone and social media to really be present. Studying abroad looks different for everyone.
Additionally, being unplugged in a city while walking around can make your experience so different. Not only from physically looking up at your surroundings more rather than navigation, but also finding your way around on your own. Having some time to wander or navigate without directions allowed me to understand the streets and my way around much faster. It can be uncomfortable, but it was so worthwhile.
Next, traveling can feel vulnerable, so people tend to create groups of students and stick with them for most of their study abroad. In Florence, the CEA Capa program has students from various United States locations. After entering orientation, I saw one of my mutual friends from the University of Miami. We exchanged numbers and sat near each other. After my first finance class, two of the girls went to school at Babson, a school less than 10 minutes from my hometown. After days of travel and new faces, these interactions eased some stress, and gave me a sense of familiarity. You still are able to meet new people, interact with locals, and see new things, while building a safety net of security. This sense of community allowed me to have a safety net when feeling overwhelmed. However, my next piece of advice is to plan a solo trip. This may seem daunting, but it truly makes you grow so much as an individual. Taking some time for self discovery and solo travel allows you to learn a lot about yourself.
Lastly, take guides and lists with a grain of salt. Having a list of great restaurants and museums can be super helpful, however, one of the best parts of travel is your own discovery. Sometimes wandering into a small restaurant can make for one of the best meals of your life. I also think it can cause people to limit their experiences to what others have. Further, you are sometimes given tips to act or dress in certain ways that can be constraining/stressful. Early in my experience, I over thought “fitting in.” In a lot of ways, the perception of blending in and fitting into Italian culture creates fatigue. What can prevent or seperate locals from United States students is actually the perception of difference rather than the actual distance. When viewing yourself as so different, you actually ignore what might bring you closer to people in general. A lot of research and discussion with past abroad students over emphasized fitting in with Italian culture. I think this made me realize that an important first step is listening and perceiving those around you before acting or assuming. This avoids leaning into stereotypes and actually showed me that there are a lot more similarities between Italians and Americans than I thought. I have greater social awareness and respect, especially after traveling to larger cities with people from all over. When you experience more people, you are better able to understand differences and similarities between yourself and them. This allows you to minimize stereotypes or judgements you may have previously thought. Overall, I have broadened a lot as a person, and really recommend meeting local people!
In the last few days of the abroad semester, I look around Florence feeling grateful, excited, and sad at the same time. A bittersweet goodbye to a wonderful city and community, I reflect on all the ways I have changed since arriving. It is safe to say, studying abroad was one of the best decisions I have made!
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